US Weapons in Germany: Criticism and Concerns
Following the announcement that the US will station additional weapons in Germany, there has been widespread criticism of the government’s actions. The Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party has been particularly vocal in its opposition.
CDU defense politician Johann Wadephul called for a Bundestag debate on the planned stationing of US long-range weapons in Germany. He criticized the government’s communication on the issue, calling it “abysmal.”
Wadephul argued that such an important decision should be debated in parliament and that the government’s lack of transparency would undermine public support. He did acknowledge, however, that there are compelling arguments in favor of the stationing.
The CDU politician argued that the stationing is necessary as a response to the threat posed by Russian Iskander missiles in the Kaliningrad region. He claimed that this poses a direct threat to Germany and potentially limits its political maneuvering capabilities.
The German and US governments announced the deployment of US long-range weapons in Germany during the NATO summit in Washington in July. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius justified this move by citing a “serious capability gap” in Europe. Former Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel criticized the lack of debate surrounding the stationing.